PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS

ALACHUA

SPECs -- Special Parents, Exceptional Children 

(SPEC) is an informal support group for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO MEETINGS HELD DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.  MEETINGS WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER

3rd Friday of each month 7-9p.m.

     CARD office

     1405 NW 13th Street

     Gainesville 32601

Newcomers are encouraged to come a little earlier from 6 - 7 p.m..  

For more information contact Pam Kissoondyal, Parent Partner with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), at (352) 379-7885.

CITRUS

Citrus Autism Support Society (CASS)
  
This is a social group for families and especially children to get to know each other and to make friends.

NO MEETINGS IN JUNE AND JULY

Fridays 6:30

Scheduled Meeting Dates: 8/31, 9/28, 10/26, 11/16, 12/14

     Key Training Center ( located off of Hwy 44)
     130 Heights Avenue
     Inverness, FL
 
 
Contact:  Marianne Bryant at (352) 726-9242 or email to mbryant34450@yahoo.com or bryantm@citrus.k12.fl.us

COBB

Cobb County Autism Support Group
3rd Thurs 7-9pm and every other month from 9-11am.

Contact: Stephanie Smith at 678-560-4522

HERNANDO

Autism H.A.P.P.E.N"

The Hernando Autism Parenting and Personal Experience Network will be meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of every month to discuss a different topic pertaining to Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Grandparents, as well as parents of children who have yet to receive a diagnosis are welcome to join the discussions.

Location:

            Pediatric Therapy Works

Time:

            7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Please note that there is no childcare, however, the meetings are free of charge.

For more information, and to register, please contact Leslie Bolen at (352) 683-0209 or email  HernandoAutism@aol.com

LAKELAND and POLK

Parental 

Encouragement for 

Autistic 

Children 

Everywhere 

Open to parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Meetings held on the 1st Tuesday of every month

Time:  6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location:

Family Fundamentals

1021 Lakeland Hills Boulevard, 2nd Floor

Lakeland, FL 33805

For more information visit http://www.peacelakeland.com or call Nicole Torres (863-686-1221 x228) or Sabra Murphy (863-688-4836)

MARION

hosts "Helping Hands" 

"Helping Hands" (a parent support group for parents of children living with ASD) invites you to "connect" with your peers.  Gather valuable information, share thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas.  Parent Partners from the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) are present at each meeting.  All special needs parents are welcome.

Last Wednesday  6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

PLEASE NOTE that due to lack of space,  there will be no respite care provided but children are always welcome.  Other events are scheduled during the month, guest speakers are invited on particular dates and specific topics of interest and issues are discussed at the request of parent members, so please contact us with your ideas. Also note that dates are subject to change, so please check this calendar often for additions and changes or call Julie Boisvert at (352) 861-0057.

AWARE for Autism Meeting - Are We Awake, Ready & Educated for Autism? Monthly support group for those affected by autism. Various topics & speakers ranging from diet, therapy, to advocacy and more.

1st Tuesdays -- Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 11 

5740 Moog Rd. 

Contact: Monica Bice by email to  Aware4Autism@msn.com, by phone at 727-945-0947 or visit http://tinyurl.com/7g93x

GFCF/SCD Support Group - This dietary support group is to assist parents that are seeking to pursue dietary intervention for the treatment of ASD. Monthly meetings include recipes, food samples, & help with shopping & food selection.
3rd Tues  7pm-9pm (free) 

Whole Foods 

7720 Peters Rd 

Plantation , FL 33324 

Contact: Susan Wallitsch  by email to cep@myecc.net or call 954-349-0609

Concerned Parents Of Autistic Children - Monthly Meetings are designed to support parents raising children with diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum.  
Last Sun. 3pm - 5pm, Free, 

Natures Health Foods, Dr. Moursi by email to: hmoursi@hotmail.com, or call 813-643-9393.  On the web at www.cpoac.org

351 Andrews Street 

West Volusia -- First Baptist Church of Melbourne

1st Wed  Free  7:00 - 9:00 pm

 3301 Dairy Road